Fact Sheet ST-53 November 1993

Acer saccharum ‘Goldspire’ ‘Goldspire’ Sugar Maple1 Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson2

INTRODUCTION

This cultivar of Sugar Maple is a narrow-crowned columnar-shaped tree with a slow growth rate (Fig. 1). The tree will be about 40 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide at maturity in a landscape. It grows about 1 foot each year in most soils and is resistant to reflected heat, and to drought, and does not generally leaf scorch as the species does. Some leaf scorch may be evident on dry sites where the root system is restricted to a small soil area, such as a street tree planting. It is more drought-tolerant in open areas where the roots can grow into a large soil space.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Scientific name: Acer saccharum ‘Goldspire’ Pronunciation: AY-ser sack-AR-rum Common name(s): ‘Goldspire’ Sugar Maple Family: Aceraceae USDA hardiness zones: 3 through 8A (Fig. 2) Origin: native to North America Uses: Bonsai; wide tree lawns (>6 feet wide); medium-sized tree lawns (4-6 feet wide); recommended for buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings in the highway; screen; Figure 1. Young ‘Goldspire’ Sugar Maple. residential street tree Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree DESCRIPTION

Height: 35 to 40 feet Spread: 10 to 15 feet Crown uniformity: symmetrical canopy with a regular (or smooth) outline, and individuals have more or less identical crown forms

1. This document is adapted from Fact Sheet ST-53, a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: November 1993. 2. Edward F. Gilman, associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Dennis G. Watson, associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611. Acer saccharum ‘Goldspire’ -- ‘Goldspire’ Sugar Maple Page 2

Figure 2. Shaded area represents potential planting range.

Crown shape: columnar; pyramidal Fruit Crown density: dense Growth rate: medium Fruit shape: elongated Texture: medium Fruit length: 1 to 3 inches Fruit covering: dry or hard Foliage Fruit color: brown Fruit characteristics: attracts birds; attracts squirrels Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite (Fig. 3) and other mammals; inconspicuous and not showy; no Leaf type: simple significant litter problem Leaf margin: lobed; undulate Leaf shape: star-shaped Trunk and Branches Leaf venation: palmate Leaf type and persistence: deciduous Trunk/bark/branches: grow mostly upright and will Leaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches; 2 to 4 inches not droop; not particularly showy; should be grown Leaf color: green with a single leader; no thorns Fall color: yellow Pruning requirement: needs little pruning to develop Fall characteristic: showy a strong structure Breakage: resistant Current year twig color: brown Flower Current year twig thickness: medium; thin Flower color: green Wood specific gravity: 0.63 Flower characteristics: inconspicuous and not showy; spring flowering Acer saccharum ‘Goldspire’ -- ‘Goldspire’ Sugar Maple Page 3

USE AND MANAGEMENT

The leaves create a compact, billowing mass of foliage adding a soft touch to the landscape. The dense, highly branched crown creates a dense screen when planted on 15 foot centers. Branches are usually well-attached to trunks resulting in a low branch failure rate. The main ornamental feature of the tree is the brilliant yellow to orange fall color that develops in the cooler part of its range. The yellows are more prominent in the south. The tree transplants fairly easily but may develop girdling roots which can reduce growth, or in extreme cases kill the tree.

The limbs of Sugar Maple are usually strong and not susceptible to wind damage. The bark forms attractive bright gray plates which stand out especially during the winter. Roots are often shallow and reach the surface at an early age, even in sandy soil. Plant in an area where grass below it will not need to be mowed so the roots will not be damaged by the mower. A variety of birds use the tree for food, nesting and cover and the fruits are especially popular with squirrels.

Growing in full sun or shade, Sugar Maple will tolerate a wide variety of soil types (except compacted Figure 3. Foliage of ‘Goldspire’ Sugar Maple. soil) but is not salt-tolerant. Established trees look better when given some irrigation during dry weather, Culture particularly in the south. In the south, many leaves remain in the central portion of the canopy for much Light requirement: tree grows in part shade/part sun; of the winter, giving the tree a somewhat unkempt tree grows in the shade; tree grows in full sun appearance. Sugar Maples are not recommended for Soil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; acidic; alkaline; the Dallas area, in many cases due to alkaline soils well-drained causing chlorosis. Sensitivity to compaction, heat, Drought tolerance: moderate drought and road salt limit usage of the Sugar Maple Aerosol salt tolerance: none for urban street plantings, but it is still recommended Soil salt tolerance: poor for parks and other areas away from roads where soil is loose and well-drained. Black Maple, a similar Other species, is more tolerant of heat and drought.

Roots: surface roots are usually not a problem Nurseries may offer one or several cultivars of Winter interest: tree has winter interest due to Sugar Maple: ‘Bonfire’ - brilliant orange-red fall color; unusual form, nice persistent fruits, showy winter ‘Endowment Columnar’ - 50 feet tall, columnar form, trunk, or winter flowers red and yellow fall color; ‘Globosum’ - a slow grower Outstanding tree: not particularly outstanding with a dense round crown and a mature height of Invasive potential: little, if any, potential at this time about 10 feet; ‘Green Mountain’ - upright oval crown Verticillium wilt susceptibility: susceptible and scarlet fall color, may be more resistant to sun Pest resistance: long-term health usually not scorch; ‘Majesty’ - ovate form, resistant to frost crack affected by pests and sun scald. ‘Newton Sentry’ - upright growth habit; ‘Sweet Shadow’ - cut leaves; ‘Temple’s Upright’ - an upright growth habit. Acer saccharum ‘Goldspire’ -- ‘Goldspire’ Sugar Maple Page 4

Pests may be needed. The disease is most common on Sugar and Silver Maples and Boxelder. Other maples Leaf stalk borer and petiole-borer cause the same may not be affected as severely. Sprays may need to type of injury. Both insects bore into the leaf stalk be applied by a commercial applicator having proper just below the leaf blade. The leaf stalk shrivels, turns spray equipment. black, and the leaf blade falls off. The leaf drop may appear heavy but serious injury to a healthy tree is Verticillium wilt symptoms are wilting and death rare. of branches. Infected sapwood will be stained a dark or olive green but staining can’t always be found. If Gall mites stimulate the formation of growths or staining can not be found do not assume the problem galls on the leaves. The galls are small but can be so is not verticillium wilt. Severely infected trees numerous that individual leaves curl up. The most probably can’t be saved. Lightly infected trees common gall is bladder gall mite found on Silver showing only a few wilted branches may be pulled Maple. The galls are round and at first green but later through. Fertilize and prune lightly infected trees. turn red, then black, then dry up. Galls of other This treatment will not cure the problem but may shapes are seen less frequently on other types of allow the tree to outgrow the infection. Girdling roots maples. Galls are not serious, so chemical controls are will cause symptoms which mimic verticillium wilt. not needed. Girdling roots grow around the base of the trunk Crimson erineum mite is usually found on Silver rather than growing away from it. As both root and Maple and causes the formation of red fuzzy patches trunk increase in size, the root chokes the trunk. on the lower leaf surfaces. The problem is not serious Girdling roots are detected by examining the base of so control measures are not suggested. the trunk. The lack of trunk flare at ground level is a symptom. The portion of the trunk above a girdling Aphids infest maples, usually Norway Maple, and root does not grow as rapidly as the rest so may be may be numerous at times. High populations can slightly depressed. The offending root may be on the cause leaf drop. Another sign of heavy aphid surface or may be just below the sod. The tree crown infestation is honey dew on lower leaves and objects shows premature fall coloration and death of parts of beneath the tree. Aphids are controlled by spraying or the tree in more serious cases. If large portions of the they may be left alone. If not sprayed, predatory tree have died it may not be worth saving. Girdling insects will bring the aphid population under control. roots are functional roots so when removed a portion of the tree may die. When the girdling root is large Scales are an occasional problem on maples. the treatment is as harmful as the problem. After root Perhaps the most common is cottony maple scale. The removal, follow-up treatment includes watering during insect forms a cottony mass on the lower sides of dry weather. The best treatment for girdling roots is branches. Scales are usually controlled with prevention by removing or cutting circling roots at horticultural oil. Scales may also be controlled with planting or as soon as they are detected on young well-timed sprays to kill the crawlers. trees.

If borers become a problem it is an indication the Scorch occurs on the species during periods of tree is not growing well. Controlling borers involves high temperatures accompanied by wind, but keeping trees healthy. Chemical controls of existing ‘Goldspire’ appears to be resistant. Trees with infestations are more difficult. Proper control involves diseased or inadequate root systems may show identification of the borer infesting the tree then scorching. When trees do not get enough water they applying insecticides at the proper time. scorch. Scorch symptoms are light brown or tan dead areas between leaf veins. The symptoms are on all Diseases parts of the tree or only on the side exposed to sun and wind. Scorching due to dry soil may be overcome Anthracnose is more of a problem in rainy by watering. If scorching is due to an inadequate or seasons. The disease resembles, and may be confused diseased root system, watering may have no effect. with, a physiological problem called scorch. The disease causes light brown or tan areas on the leaves. Nutrient deficiency symptoms are yellow or Anthracnose may be controlled by fungicides sprayed yellowish-green leaves with darker green veins. The on as leaves open in the spring. Additional sprays most commonly deficient nutrient on maple is Acer saccharum ‘Goldspire’ -- ‘Goldspire’ Sugar Maple Page 5 manganese. Implanting capsules containing a manganese source in the trunk will alleviate the symptoms. Test soil samples to determine if the soil pH is too high for best manganese availability. Plants exposed to weed killers may also show similar symptoms.

Tar spot and a variety of leaf spots cause some concern among homeowners but are rarely serious enough for control.